Canada Stocks to Watch: Scotiabank, Wajax, BCE, Astral, Shaw, Corus

Bank of Nova Scotia said its first-quarter profit was up 13%, beating expectations, and it hiked its dividend 5% to 60 Canadian cents a share.

Wajax Corp. said fourth-quarter earnings fell to 85 Canadian cents a share from C$1. Revenue also edged lower.

Canada’s Competition Bureau cleared BCE Inc.'s amended acquisition offer for Astral Media Inc. on the condition BCE sell off some pay- and speciality-television assets Corus Entertainment Inc. will spend a combined C$494 million to buy some assets BCE is getting under the Astral deal and other Shaw Communications Inc. assets.

About Canada Real Time

Canada Real Time provides insight and analysis into what’s making news in Canada, a country punching above its weight on the world stage thanks to its vast resources and strong banking sector. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, we take a look at developments in fields ranging from business to politics to culture. You can contact the editors at canadaeditors@dowjones.com